Printer

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment, a printer includes a battery, a display, a memory and a processor. The memory stores a predetermined residual capacity of the battery of the printer and amount information of a printing medium on which a predetermined printing data can be printed with the predetermined residual capacity in association with each other in advance. The processor controls the display such that the amount information corresponding to the predetermined residual capacity stored in the memory is displayed on the display, in a case where determining that the residual capacity of the battery is reduced to less than the predetermined residual capacity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-185790, filed on Sep. 18,2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The embodiments described hereinafter generally relates to a printer.

BACKGROUND

Recently, there is business to deliver, for example, a commodity to homeof a commodity purchaser. In this delivery business, for example, in acase where the purchaser is away from the place where the commodity isdelivered, a deliverer leaves an absence notification at the home of thecommodity purchaser. Specifically, the deliverer issues a label or areceipt on which information of the absence notification is printed byusing a portable printer and leaves the issued absence notification atthe home of the commodity purchaser. Here, the information of theabsence notification corresponds to, for example, information in whichthe purchased commodity is unable to be delivered and temporarily storedbecause the commodity purchaser is not at home or the like. Such aportable printer has a battery for its operation. An operator of theprinter (deliverer) recognizes a battery remaining amount based on abattery residual capacity shown by the printer.

As described above, although the printer informs the operator that thebattery residual capacity of the installed battery becomes low, it isdifficult for the operator to recognize how many the labels or thereceipts can be furthermore printed by the printer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of a printeraccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration with respectto conveying of a label and printing on the label in the printeraccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of theprinter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a memory map illustrating a residual capacity table installedin a memory of the printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a function configuration of theprinter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of a control processing ofthe printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an LED lighting control processingof the printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of a printeraccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration with respectto conveying of a receipt paper and printing on the receipt paper in theprinter according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an LED lighting control processingof the printer according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, a printer performs printing of apredetermined printing data onto a printing medium by means of a drivingpower source provided as a battery. The printer has a memory, ameasuring device, a display, and a processor. The memory stores apredetermined residual capacity of the battery and amount informationcorresponding to a printing medium amount on which the printing data canbe printed based on the predetermined residual capacity in associationwith each other. The measuring device measures the residual capacity ofthe battery. The display displays information with respect to theresidual capacity of the battery. The processor judges whether theresidual capacity of the battery measured by the measuring device islower than the predetermined residual capacity or not. Further, in acase where the processor determines that the residual capacity of thebattery measured by the measuring device is lower than the predeterminedresidual capacity, the processor controls the display such that theamount information corresponding to the predetermined residual capacitystored in the memory, as information with respect to the residualcapacity of the battery, is displayed on the display.

Hereinafter, the embodiments are further described with reference tofigures. In the figures, the same reference numeral shows the same or asimilar component.

(First Embodiment)

A printer according to a first embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7. In the first embodiment, for example, a portable printerused by a deliverer who performs a delivery service of a package such ascommodity while mounting the printer on the deliverer's body (forexample, waist). The portable printer performs printing of apredetermined printing data onto a printing medium by means of a drivingpower source provided as a battery. The printer is used for performingthe printing of information of an absence notification onto the printingmedium, for example, a label and for issuing the label, when a commoditypurchaser is absent from home to which the commodity is delivered. Inthe explanation described below, the portable printer is merely called aprinter. Further, the first embodiment is not limited to a configurationdescribed below.

FIG. 1 is a front view mainly illustrating an outer appearance of aprinter 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theprinter 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape,and the printer 1 has a body 2 and a cover 4. As shown in FIG. 2, theprinter 1 has a printing head 18, a platen roller 31, a motor 17, abattery 23, and a communication interface (communication I/F) 25 insidethe body 2. The printing head 18 is, for example, formed as a thermalhead having a plurality of heating elements 32 arranged linearly.Hereinafter, the printing head 18 is called a thermal head 18. Theplaten roller 31 is also served as a conveyance roller which conveys alabel to the thermal head 18. The platen roller 31 conveys the label byrotating while holding the label between the platen roller 31 and thethermal head 18. The platen roller 31 is connected to the motor 17. Themotor 17 rotates the platen roller 31. Further, the printer 1 has anopening switch 5 mounted on the body 2, and a slit 6. The opening switch5 is formed to open the cover 4 being in a closed state. Further, theprinter 1 has a circuit substrate and the like not shown inside the body2. The inner configuration of the body 2 is described in detail below.

Further, the printer 1 has a paper supply device. The paper supplydevice is provided inside the body 2. A rolled paper PR1 (see FIG. 2)having an elongated mount on which labels L (see FIG. 2) with the sameshape are adhered at the same intervals can be set on the paper supplydevice. The paper supply device of the body 2 holds the paper PR1 in arotatable manner. The paper PR1 is set on the paper supply device in thebody 2 after opening the cover 4. The printer 1 performs the printing ofinformation of the absence notification onto the label L of the paperPR1 pulled out from the set paper PR1. The printer 1 issues the printedlabel L (absence notification) by discharging the printed label L fromthe slit 6 to the outside.

Further, the body 2 has a display 3 mounted on the front part. As shownin FIG. 1, the display 3 displays a switch 33, a switch 34, and a switch35. The switch 33 is a power switch which receives an operation of anoperator for switching On/Off of the power source. The printer 1repeatedly switches the On/Off of the power source as the switch 33receives the operation of the operator. The switch 34 is formed toreceive an operation of the operator to temporarily stop a printingoperation of the printer 1. The printer 1 repeatedly switches temporarystopping and resuming of the printing operation as the switch 34receives the operation of the operator. The switch 35 is formed toreceive an operation of the operator for feeding the label L in theprinter 1. The printer 1 feeds the label L of the paper PR1 during theperiod in which the switch 35 is receiving the operation of theoperator.

Further, in particular, a touch panel (not shown) is installed on anupper surface part of the display 3 on which the switch 33, the switch34, and the switch 35 are displayed. The touch panel corresponding tothe switch 33, the switch 34, and the switch 35 detects a pressingoperation of the operator. The switch 33, the switch 34, and the switch35 receive the operation of the operator according to the detection ofthe touch panel. The printer executes a processing corresponding to theswitch receiving the operation of the operator.

Further, the display 3 has an error display area 36 for displayingvarious errors thereon. In the error display area 36, for example,letters of “cover open”, “paper end”, “communication error” or the likeas an error message is shown. Further, in the error display area 36, anLED (Light Emitting Diode) is provided at the rear of each errormessage. The display 3 informs the corresponding error message bylighting the LED of the error display area 36.

Further, the display 3 has a residual number display area 37 whichdisplays a residual printable number (amount information). In the firstembodiment, numbers of “100”, “50”, “30”, and “10” indicating the amountinformation are displayed linearly in a lateral direction at the sameintervals in the residual number display area 37 as shown in FIG. 1.These numbers correspond to estimated numbers as to how many labels Lcan be furthermore printed based on the residual capacity of the battery23, respectively. The number of “100” indicating the amount informationmeans that the residual printable number is equal to substantially 100sheets. The number of “50” indicating the amount information means thatthe residual printable number is equal to substantially 50 sheets. Thenumber of “30” indicating the amount information means that the residualprintable number is equal to substantially 30 sheets. The number of “10”indicating the amount information means that the residual printablenumber is equal to substantially 10 sheets.

Further, the display 3 has LEDs 38 to 41. The LEDs 38 to 41 are arrangedat respective positions (below the respective numbers in the firstembodiment) corresponding to the numbers indicating the amountinformation, respectively. Namely, the LED 38 is arranged below thenumber of “100”, the LED 39 is arranged below the number of “50”, theLED 40 is arranged below the number of “30”, and the LED 41 is arrangedbelow the number of “10”. The LEDs 38 to 41 are collectively called anLED 19.

The printer 1 informs that substantially 100 sheets of the label L canbe furthermore printed at a high speed by lighting the LED 38. Theprinter 1 informs that substantially 50 sheets of the label L can befurthermore printed at a high speed by lighting the LED 39. The printer1 informs that substantially 30 sheets of the label L can be furthermoreprinted at a high speed by lighting the LED 40. The printer 1 informsthat substantially 10 sheets of the label L can be furthermore printedat a high speed by lighting the LED 41. The printer 1 informs thatsubstantially 10 sheets of the label L can be furthermore printed at alow speed by blinking the LED 41. Accordingly, based on the lighting orblinking LED 19, the operator of the printer 1 can recognize how manythe labels L can be furthermore printed by the printer 1 according tothe residual capacity of the battery 23.

Here, the residual capacity of electric power (hereinafter referred toas merely “residual capacity”) stored in the battery 23 is related withoutput voltage of the battery. When the residual capacity of the batteryis large, the output voltage of the battery 23 is high. Further, theoutput voltage of the battery 23 becomes low as the residual capacity ofthe battery becomes small. Namely, by measuring the output voltage ofthe battery 23, the residual capacity of the battery 23 can be grasped.

When the battery 23 is fully charged (for example, the output voltage ofthe battery 23 is 8.4 volts), the printer 1 stores the electric powercapable of performing the high speed printing onto substantially 700sheets of the labels L. In this way, in a case where the residualcapacity of the electric power stored in the battery 23 is large enough(in the first embodiment, equal to or more than voltage V1 describedbelow), any LED among the LED 38, the LED 39, the LED 40, and the LED 41is not turned on (kept in an off state).

Further, when the printer 1 performs the printing onto the label L byusing the fully charged battery 23, the residual capacity of the battery23 is reduced as the label L is printed. In the first embodiment, atiming with respect to the residual capacity of the battery 23 to whichthe operator should pay attention by using the printer 1 to perform theprinting on a considerable number of the label L is set to a timing inwhich substantially 100 sheets can be furthermore printed by using theresidual capacity of the battery 23. The printer 1 informs the residualprintable number of the operator since when the residual printablenumber becomes substantially 100 sheets.

Namely, when the residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced to acapacity capable of performing the high speed printing onto furthermoresubstantially 100 sheets of the labels L, the printer 1 turns on the LED38. At this time, the printer 1 turns off the LED 39, the LED 40, andthe LED 41. Here, the capacity capable of performing the high speedprinting onto furthermore substantially 100 sheets of the labels Lcorresponds to a residual capacity stored in the battery in a state inwhich the output voltage of the battery 23 is slightly lower thanvoltage V1. Further, when the residual capacity of the battery 23 isreduced to a capacity capable of performing the high speed printing ontofurthermore substantially 50 sheets of the labels L, the printer 1 turnson the LED 39. At this time, the printer 1 turns off the LED 38, the LED40, and the LED 41. Here, the capacity capable of performing the highspeed printing onto furthermore substantially 50 sheets of the labels Lcorresponds to a residual capacity stored in the battery in a state inwhich the output voltage of the battery 23 is slightly lower thanvoltage V2. Further, when the residual capacity of the battery 23 isreduced to a capacity capable of performing the high speed printing ontofurthermore substantially 30 sheets of the labels L, the printer 1 turnson the LED 40. At this time, the printer 1 turns off the LED 38, the LED39, and the LED 41. Here, the capacity capable of performing the highspeed printing onto furthermore substantially 30 sheets of the labels Lcorresponds to a residual capacity stored in the battery in a state inwhich the output voltage of the battery 23 is slightly lower thanvoltage V3. Further, when the residual capacity of the battery 23 isreduced to a capacity capable of performing the high speed printing ontofurthermore substantially 10 sheets of the labels L, the printer 1 turnson the LED 41. At this time, the printer 1 turns off the LED 38, the LED39, and the LED 40. Here, the capacity capable of performing the highspeed printing onto furthermore substantially 10 sheets of the labels Lcorresponds to a residual capacity stored in the battery in a state inwhich the output voltage of the battery 23 is slightly lower thanvoltage V4.

In a case where the printing on the labels L is continued after the LED41 is turned on, the residual capacity of the battery 23 is furtherreduced. And then, when the residual capacity of the battery 23 isreduced to a critical capacity, the printer 1 is turned into a conditionin which the printer 1 unable to continue to perform the high speedprinting furthermore. The critical capacity corresponds to a residualcapacity stored in the battery in a state in which the output voltage ofthe battery 23 is slightly lower than a critical voltage V5. However,even if the residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced to thecritical capacity, a little capacity still remains. In this state of thebattery, the printer 1 can perform the printing by using the residualcapacity of the battery 23 under the condition in which the printer 1does not consume much electric power (hereinafter referred to as lowelectric power). Thus, in the first embodiment, an operation mode of theprinter 1 is switched from a normal mode described below to a savingmode in which the printer 1 can be driven by the low electric power, andthe printing onto the labels L is continued. Specifically, in the savingmode, the printer 1 decreases the electric power supplied to the motor17. Thus, a rotation speed of the motor 17 becomes low, and therefore aconveying speed of the label L of the paper PR1 by the platen roller 31becomes low. The printer 1 performs the printing onto the label L whilereducing the conveying speed of the label L of the paper PR1. Theprinter 1 can perform the printing onto the label L by using the lowelectric power in the saving mode, while it takes much time. Here, theprintable number of the label L in the saving mode is, for example,substantially 10. To perform the printing furthermore is difficultbecause the battery 23 becomes in an over-discharged state.

Further, when the printer 1 is switched to the saving mode, the lightingLED 41 is blinked. With the blinking of the LED 41, the display 3 of theprinter 1 informs the operator that the printer 1 is switched to thesaving mode. A printing sound of the printer 1 performing the printingonto the label L in the normal mode is different from a printing soundof the printer 1 performing the printing onto the label L in the savingmode after being switched from the normal mode. This is mainly becauseof differences of rotation sounds of the motor 17 caused by differencesof the rotation speeds of the motor 17 between in the normal mode and inthe saving mode (high speed in the normal mode and low speed in thesaving mode). On the other hand, the operator might feel suspiciousabout why the printing sound of the printer 1 is changed during theprinting. In the first embodiment, the suspicious feeling of theoperator is eliminated by informing the operator that the printer 1 isswitched from the normal mode to the saving mode by the blinking the LED41.

FIG. 2 shows a mechanism of the conveying and the printing of the labelL in the body 2 of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper PR1 tobe pulled out is set on the paper supply device in the body 2. The paperPR1 has a mount wound around a winding part of the paper supply device,and a plurality of labels L having the same shape arranged on the mountat the same intervals. A rear face of the label L is coated with anadhesive, and therefore the label L is removably adhered to the mount bythe adhesive.

A front face of the label L is coated with a color developing agentwhich develops black color or other colors when heat is applied thereon.As shown in FIG. 2, in a conveying path of the label L, the thermal head18 and the platen roller 31 are arranged to face each other andelastically contacted with each other. The thermal head 18 is biasedupwardly and the platen roller 31 is biased downwardly by a biasingmember not shown. The mount of the paper PR1 and the label L pulled outfrom the winding part of the paper supply device are conveyed in adirection of an arrow P and elastically held by the thermal head 18 andthe platen roller 31 at a contact position of the thermal head 18 andthe platen roller 31. At the contact position, the front face of thelabel L is contacted with the heating elements 32 linearly arranged onthe thermal head 18. Further, at the contact position, the rear face ofthe label L is elastically contacted with the platen roller 31. Theplaten roller 31 is rotated by rotation of the motor 17 energized by theelectric power supplied from the battery 23. When the platen roller 31is rotated, the label L is conveyed in the direction of the arrow P. Themotor 17 is rotated at a high speed by the high electric power suppliedfrom the battery 23. When the motor 17 is rotated at the high speed, theplaten roller 31 is rotated at a high speed by the motor 17. When theplaten roller 31 is rotated at the high speed, the label L is conveyedat a high speed by the platen roller 31. In the normal mode, when theplaten roller 31 is rotated at the high speed, the label L is conveyedat the high speed by the platen roller 31. Here, the high electric powersupplied to the motor 17 from the battery 23 when the platen roller 31conveys the label L at the high speed is hereinafter called normalelectric power. Further, the motor 17 is rotated at a low speed when lowelectric power lower than the normal electric power is supplied to themotor 17 from the battery 23. When the motor 17 is rotated at the lowspeed, the platen roller 31 is rotated at a low speed by the motor 17.When the platen roller 31 is rotated at the low speed, the label L isconveyed at a low speed by the platen roller 31. In the saving mode,when the platen roller 31 is rotated at the low speed, the label L isconveyed at the low speed by the platen roller 31. The label L conveyedby the platen roller 31 and the information of the absence notificationis printed thereon by the thermal head 18 is discharged from the slit 6to the outside of the printer 1. The printer 1 issues the printed labelL (absence notification) by discharging the printed label L.

Next, a hardware configuration of the printer 1 is described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating thehardware configuration of the printer. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 1has a processor 100, a memory 14 and the like. The processor 100 has aCPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, and a RAM(Random Access Memory) 13. The CPU 11 is a core part of control of theprinter 1. The ROM 12 stores various programs. The RAM 13 has a storagearea in which various data is developed. The memory 14 stores variousprograms. The CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the memory 14 aremutually connected via a data bus 15. The CPU 11 is actuated inaccordance with a control program stored in the ROM 12 or the memory 14and developed in the RAM 13, and the processor 100 executes a controlprocessing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The memory 14 is formed as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) holding the storedinformation after turning off, a nonvolatile memory such as a flashmemory, or the like. The memory 14 has a control program storage area141 in which a control program is stored. Further, the memory 14 has aresidual capacity table 142 and a mode storage area 143. The residualcapacity table is described below in FIG. 4. The mode storage area 143stores information corresponding to the operation mode of the printer 1.The operation mode includes, for example, the normal mode, the savingmode and a stopping mode. The mode storage area 143 stores, as describedbelow, one of information corresponding to the normal mode, informationcorresponding to the saving mode, and information corresponding to thestopping mode as the operation mode of the printer 1. In a case wherethe capacity of the battery 23 is equal to or more than the criticalcapacity, the printer 1 is driven in the normal mode. In the normalmode, the platen roller 31 conveys the label L at the high speed by thenormal electric power supplied from the battery 23 to the motor 17, andthen the thermal head 18 performs the printing onto the label L.

On the other hand, in a case where the capacity of the battery 23becomes below the critical capacity, the printer 1 is driven after theoperation mode is switched from the normal mode to the saving mode. Inthe saving mode, the platen roller 31 conveys the label L at the lowspeed by the electric power lower than the normal electric powersupplied from the battery 23 to the motor 17, and then the thermal head18 performs the printing onto the label L.

Further, in a case where the capacity of the battery is further reducedfrom the critical capacity, the printer 1 switches the operation mode tothe stopping mode, stops supplying the electric power from the battery23 to the motor 17, and stops all operation in the printer 1 includingthe printing operation to the label L by the thermal head 18.

Further, the processor 100 is connected to the motor 17, the thermalhead 18, the LED 19 (the LED 38, the LED 39, the LED 40, and the LED41), the switch 33, the switch 34, the switch 35, and sensors 21 via thedata bus 15 and a bus controller 16. The sensors 21 include a sensor fordetermining a home position of the label L to be printed, a sensor fordetermining a stopping position of the label L discharged from the slit6, a sensor for detecting an end part of the label L, and the like.

Further, the processor 100 is connected to a charging and dischargingcontroller 22 via the data bus 15. The charging and dischargingcontroller 22 is connected to the battery 23. The charging anddischarging controller 22 receives a control signal from the processor100 to charge the battery 23 by means of a commercial power source notshown. Further, the charging and discharging controller 22 receives acontrol signal from the processor 100 to discharge the battery 23 inorder to supply the electric power to the motor 17, the thermal head 18,and the LED 19. The charging and discharging controller 22 directlycontrols a charging and a discharging of the battery 23 by receiving thecontrol signal from the processor 100.

Further, the processor 100 is connected to a measuring device 24 via thedata bus 15. The measuring device 24 is, for example, a voltmeterconnected to both terminals of the battery 23 to measure an outputvoltage of the battery 23. The measuring device 24 outputs the outputvoltage measured at a predetermined interval to the processor 100 viathe data bus 15.

Further, the processor 100 is connected to the communication I/F 25 viathe data bus 15. The communication I/F 25 receives a printing data froma handy terminal (not shown) as an upstream device, by using, forexample, a wireless communication technique. The handy terminal in thefirst embodiment is, for example, served as a portable terminal whichsends the information of the absence notification to the printer 1 whenthe purchaser is absent from home to which the commodity is delivered.The printer 1 receives the information of the absence notification fromthe handy terminal via the communication I/F 25.

Next, the residual capacity table 142 provided in the memory 14 isdescribed. FIG. 4 is a memory map illustrating the residual capacitytable 142 provided in the memory 14 of the printer 1. As shown in FIG.4, the residual capacity table 142 has a voltage area 1421 and alighting LED area 1422. The residual capacity table 142 stores outputvoltages V1 to V6 of the battery 23 as predetermined residual capacitiesof the battery 23 in the voltage area 1421 in advance. Specifically, theresidual capacity table 142 stores the output voltage V1 of the battery23 in the voltage area 1421 as the predetermined residual capacity ofthe battery 23 capable of performing the printing at the high speed ontosubstantially 100 sheets of the labels L. The residual capacity table142 stores the output voltage V2 of the battery 23 in the voltage area1421 as the predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23 capable ofperforming the printing at the high speed onto substantially 50 sheetsof the labels L. The residual capacity table 142 stores the outputvoltage V3 of the battery 23 in the voltage area 1421 as thepredetermined residual capacity of the battery 23 capable of performingthe printing at the high speed onto substantially 30 sheets of thelabels L. The residual capacity table 142 stores the output voltage V4of the battery 23 in the voltage area 1421 as the predetermined residualcapacity of the battery 23 capable of performing the printing at thehigh speed onto substantially 10 sheets of the labels L. The residualcapacity table 142 stores the output voltage V5 corresponding to thecritical voltage of the battery 23 in the voltage area 1421 as thepredetermined residual capacity of the battery 23 capable of performingthe printing onto the labels L while incapable of performing theprinting at the high speed. Further, the residual capacity table 142stores the output voltage V6 of the battery 23 in the voltage area 1421as the predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23 incapable ofperforming the printing even at the low speed.

The residual capacity table 142 stores information of lighting orblinking of the LEDs 38 to 41 as the amount information of the printablelabel L corresponding to any of the voltages V1 to V6 in the lightingLED area 1422. Specifically, the residual capacity table 142 stores theinformation for lighting the LED 38 in the lighting LED area 1422 as theamount information of the label L on which the printing data can beprinted in association with the voltage V1. The residual capacity table142 stores the information for lighting the LED 39 in the lighting LEDarea 1422 as the amount information of the label L on which the printingdata can be printed in association with the voltage V2. The residualcapacity table 142 stores the information for lighting the LED 40 in thelighting LED area 1422 as the amount information of the label L on whichthe printing data can be printed in association with the voltage V3. Theresidual capacity table 142 stores the information for lighting the LED41 in the lighting LED area 1422 as the amount information of the labelL on which the printing data can be printed in association with thevoltage V4. Further, the residual capacity table 142 stores theinformation for blinking the LED 41 in the lighting LED area 1422 as theamount information of the label L on which the printing data can beprinted in association with the voltage V5.

Next, a control processing of the printer 1 is described with referenceto FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functionconfiguration of the printer 1. A processor 100 is served as a residualcapacity measuring processor 101, a judging processor 102 and aninforming processor 103 by executing the control program stored in theROM 12 or the control program area 141 of the memory 14.

The residual capacity measuring processor 101 receives a measured resultoutputted from the measuring device 24 via the data bus 15. The measuredresult is the output voltage of the battery 23 corresponding to theresidual capacity of the battery 23. The residual capacity measuringprocessor 101 grasps the residual capacity of the battery 23 based onthe measured result of the measuring device 24. Specifically, theresidual capacity measuring processor 101 grasps the output voltage ofthe battery 23 as the residual capacity of the battery 23 based on themeasured result of the measuring device 24. In the description below,the output voltage of the battery 23 may be used instead of the residualcapacity of the battery 23. Further, in the description below, theresidual capacity of the battery 23 may be used instead of the outputvoltage of the battery 23.

The judging processor 102 is formed to judge whether the residualcapacity of the battery 23 grasped by the residual capacity measuringprocessor 101 is reduced to less than the predetermined residualcapacity stored in the residual capacity table 142. Specifically, thejudging processor 102 judges whether the output voltage of the battery23 grasped as the residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced to lessthan each of the voltages V1, V2, V3, and V4 stored in the residualcapacity table 142.

The informing processor 103 is formed to inform the amount informationof the label L (residual printable number of the label L) stored in theresidual capacity table 142 of the memory 14 in accordance with thepredetermined residual capacity when the judging processor 102determines that the residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced toless than the predetermined capacity. Specifically, the informingprocessor 103 lights one of the LEDs 38 to 41 corresponding to theamount information of the label L. As described above, the processor 100judges whether the residual capacity of the battery 23 (the outputvoltage of the battery 23) measured by the measuring device is reducedto less than the predetermined residual capacity. Further, in a casewhere the processor 100 determines that the measured residual capacityof the battery 23 is reduced to less than the predetermined residualcapacity, the processor 100 controls the LEDs 38 to 41 of the display 19to display the amount information corresponding to the predeterminedresidual capacity stored in the memory 14 as information with respect tothe residual capacity of the battery.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a control processing of the printer1. As shown in FIG. 6, in an ACT 11, the processor 100 (the residualcapacity measuring processor 101) receives the measured result outputtedfrom the measuring device 24. The processor 100 (the residual capacitymeasuring processor 101) grasps the output voltage of the battery 23based on the measured result of the measuring device 24. In an ACT 12,the processor 100 executes an LED lighting control processing shown inFIG. 7 based on the grasped output voltage of the battery 23.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the LED lighting control processingof the printer 1 executed in the ACT 12. As shown in FIG. 7, in an ACT31, the processor 100 (the judging processor 102) judges whether thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) is equal to ormore than the voltage V1 (for example, 7.37 volts). In a case where theprocessor 100 determines that the grasped output voltage of the battery23 is equal to or more than the voltage V1 (in the ACT 31, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 44. Here, thecase where output voltage of the battery 23 is equal to or more than thevoltage V1 corresponds to, for example, a case where the battery 23 isfully charged. In the ACT 44, the processor 100 judges whetherinformation corresponding to the normal mode as the operation mode ofthe printer 1 is stored in the mode storage area 143 of the memory 14.In a case where the processor 100 determines that the informationcorresponding to the normal mode is not stored in the mode storage area143 (in the ACT 44, No), the processing of the processor 100 isproceeded to an ACT 45. In the ACT 45, the processor 100 stores theinformation corresponding to the normal mode as the operation mode ofthe printer 1 in the mode storage area 143. Further, in an ACT 57, theprocessor 100 sends the information of the output voltage of the battery23 being equal to or more than the voltage V1 to the handy terminal.Further, in the ACT 44, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the information corresponding to the normal mode is stored in themode storage area 143 (in the ACT 44, Yes), the processor 100 executes asending processing of the ACT 57 without executing the processing of theACT 45.

Thereafter, the residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced from afully charged state as the printer 1 executes a printing processing ontoa certain amount of the labels L. And then, in the ACT 31, in a casewhere the processor 100 determines that the grasped output voltage ofthe battery 23 (see the ACT 11) is not equal to or more than the voltageV1 (in the ACT 31, No), the processing of the processor 100 is proceededto an ACT 32. In the ACT 32, the processor 100 (the judging processor102) judges whether the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is lessthan the voltage V1 and equal to or more than the voltage V2 (forexample, 7.28 volts). In a case where the processor 100 determines thatthe grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V1and equal to or more than the voltage V2 (in the ACT 32, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 33. In the ACT33, the processor 100 refers to the residual capacity table 142 of thememory 14 and acquires the information for lighting the LED 38 asinformation stored in the lighting LED area 1422 in accordance with thevoltage V1. The information stored in the lighting LED area 1422 inaccordance with the voltage V1 corresponds to information that theprinting data can be printed onto substantially 100 sheets of the labelsL at the high speed. The information that the printing data can beprinted onto substantially 100 sheets of the labels L at the high speedcorresponds to the amount information of the printing mediums (thelabels L) on which the printer 1 can print the printing data based onthe predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23. Namely, theamount information corresponding to the voltage V1 is the informationthat the printing data can be printed onto substantially 100 sheets ofthe labels L at the high speed. In an ACT 34, the processor 100 (theinforming processor 103) lights the LED 38 based on the acquiredinformation for lighting the LED 38. Further, the processor 100 executesthe processing following the ACT 44. In this case, in the ACT 57, theprocessor 100 sends information that the printer 1 can perform theprinting onto furthermore substantially 100 sheets of the labels L.

When the LED 38 is lit, the operator of the printer 1 can recognize thatsubstantially 100 sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed atthe high speed based on the residual capacity of the battery 23.Further, the operator can obtain the information that substantially 100sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed at the high speed fromthe handy terminal as well.

Further, in the ACT 32, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) isless than the voltage V1 but is not equal to or more than the voltage V2(in the ACT 32, No), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded toan ACT 35. In the ACT 35, the processor 100 (the judging processor 102)judges whether the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less thanthe voltage V2 and equal to or more than the voltage V3 (for example,7.25 volts). In a case where the processor 100 determines that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V2 andequal to or more than the voltage V3 (in the ACT 35, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 36. In the ACT36, the processor 100 refers to the residual capacity table 142 of thememory 14 and acquires the information for lighting the LED 39 asinformation stored in the lighting LED area 1422 in accordance with thevoltage V2. The information stored in the lighting LED area 1422 inaccordance with the voltage V2 corresponds to information that theprinting data can be printed onto substantially 50 sheets of the labelsL at the high speed. The information that the printing data can beprinted onto substantially 50 sheets of the labels L at the high speedcorresponds to the amount information of the printing mediums (thelabels L) on which the printer 1 can print the printing data based onthe predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23. Namely, theamount information corresponding to the voltage V2 is the informationthat the printing data can be printed onto substantially 50 sheets ofthe labels L at the high speed. In an ACT 37, the processor 100 (theinforming processor 103) lights the LED 39 based on the acquiredinformation for lighting the LED 39. Further, the processor 100 executesthe processing following the ACT 44. In this case, in the ACT 57, theprocessor 100 sends information that the printer 1 can perform theprinting onto furthermore substantially 50 sheets of the labels L.

When the LED 39 is lit, the operator of the printer 1 can recognize thatsubstantially 50 sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed atthe high speed based on the residual capacity of the battery 23.Further, the operator can obtain the information that substantially 50sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed at the high speed fromthe handy terminal as well.

Further, in the ACT 35, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) isless than the voltage V2 but is not equal to or more than the voltage V3(in the ACT 35, No), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded toan ACT 38. In the ACT 38, the processor 100 (the judging processor 102)judges whether the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less thanthe voltage V3 and equal to or more than the voltage V4 (for example,7.22 volts). In a case where the processor 100 determines that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V3 andequal to or more than the voltage V4 (in the ACT 38, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 39. In the ACT39, the processor 100 refers to the residual capacity table 142 of thememory 14 and acquires the information for lighting the LED 40 asinformation stored in the lighting LED area 1422 in accordance with thevoltage V3. The information stored in the lighting LED area 1422 inaccordance with the voltage V3 corresponds to information that theprinting data can be printed onto substantially 30 sheets of the labelsL at the high speed. The information that the printing data can beprinted onto substantially 30 sheets of the labels L at the high speedcorresponds to the amount information of the printing mediums (thelabels L) on which the printer 1 can print the printing data based onthe predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23. Namely, theamount information corresponding to the voltage V3 is the informationthat the printing data can be printed onto substantially 30 sheets ofthe labels L at the high speed. In an ACT 40, the processor 100 (theinforming processor 103) lights the LED 40 based on the acquiredinformation for lighting the LED 40. Further, the processor 100 executesthe processing following the ACT 44. In this case, in the ACT 57, theprocessor 100 sends information that the printer 1 can perform theprinting onto furthermore substantially 30 sheets of the labels L.

When the LED 40 is lit, the operator of the printer 1 can recognize thatsubstantially 30 sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed atthe high speed based on the residual capacity of the battery 23.Further, the operator can obtain the information that substantially 30sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed at the high speed fromthe handy terminal as well.

Further, in the ACT 38, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) isless than the voltage V3 but is not equal to or more than the voltage V4(in the ACT 38, No), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded toan ACT 41. In the ACT 41, the processor 100 (the judging processor 102)judges whether the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less thanthe voltage V4 and equal to or more than the voltage V5 (for example,7.20 volts). In a case where the processor 100 determines that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V4 andequal to or more than the voltage V5 (in the ACT 41, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 42. In the ACT42, the processor 100 refers to the residual capacity table 142 of thememory 14 and acquires the information for lighting the LED 41 asinformation stored in the lighting LED area 1422 in accordance with thevoltage V4. The information stored in the lighting LED area 1422 inaccordance with the voltage V4 corresponds to information that theprinting data can be printed onto substantially 10 sheets of the labelsL at the high speed. The information that the printing data can beprinted onto substantially 10 sheets of the labels L at the high speedcorresponds to the amount information of the printing mediums (thelabels L) on which the printer 1 can print the printing data based onthe predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23. Namely, theamount information corresponding to the voltage V4 is the informationthat the printing data can be printed onto substantially 10 sheets ofthe labels L at the high speed. In an ACT 43, the processor 100 (theinforming processor 103) lights the LED 41 based on the acquiredinformation for lighting the LED 41. Further, the processor 100 executesthe processing following the ACT 44. In this case, in the ACT 57, theprocessor 100 sends information that the printer 1 can perform theprinting onto furthermore substantially 10 sheets of the labels L.

When the LED 41 is lit, the operator of the printer 1 can recognize thatsubstantially 10 sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed atthe high speed based on the residual capacity of the battery 23.Further, the operator can obtain the information that substantially 10sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed at the high speed fromthe handy terminal as well.

Further, in the ACT 41, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) isless than the voltage V4 but is not equal to or more than the voltage V5(in the ACT 41, No), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded toan ACT 51. In the ACT 51, the processor 100 (the judging processor 102)judges whether the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less thanthe voltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6 (for example,7.00 volts). In a case where the processor 100 determines that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V5 andequal to or more than the voltage V6 (in the ACT 51, Yes), theprocessing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 52. In the ACT52, the processor 100 refers to the residual capacity table 142 of thememory 14 and acquires the information for blinking the LED 41 asinformation stored in the lighting LED area 1422 in accordance with thevoltage V5. The information stored in the lighting LED area 1422 inaccordance with the voltage V5 corresponds to information that theprinting data can be printed onto substantially 10 sheets of the labelsL at the low speed. The information that the printing data can beprinted onto substantially 10 sheets of the labels L at the low speedcorresponds to the amount information of the printing mediums (thelabels L) on which the printer 1 can print the printing data based onthe predetermined residual capacity of the battery 23. Namely, theamount information corresponding to the voltage V5 is the informationthat the printing data can be printed onto substantially 10 sheets ofthe labels L at the low speed. In an ACT 53, the processor 100 replacesthe information of the operation mode of the printer 1 stored in themode storage area 143 with the information corresponding to the savingmode based on the acquired information for blinking the LED 41. Namely,the processor 100 switches the operation mode of the printer 1 from thenormal mode to the saving mode. In an ACT 54, the processor 100 (theinforming processor 103) blinks the LED 41 based on the acquiredinformation for blinking the LED 41. Further, the processor 100 executesthe processing of the ACT 57. In this case, in the ACT 57, the processor100 sends information that the operation mode of the printer 1 isswitched to the saving mode to the handy terminal.

In particular, the processor 100 determines in the ACT 51 that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) is less thanthe voltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6 (in the ACT 51,Yes) when the measuring device 24 measures plural times the outputvoltage of the battery 23 being less than the voltage V5 and equal to ormore than the voltage V6. It is because of a characteristic of thebattery 23 in which the output voltage of the battery 23 is recoveredsome time after the battery 23 stops supplying the electric power. Thus,at the moment when the measuring device 24 measures once the outputvoltage of the battery 23 being less than the voltage V5 and equal to ormore than the voltage V6, the processor 100 does not determines that thegrasped output voltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V5 andequal to or more than the voltage V6. Accordingly, when the measuringdevice 24 measures plural times the output voltage of the battery 23being less than the voltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6,the processor 100 determines that the grasped output voltage of thebattery 23 is less than the voltage V5 and equal to or more than thevoltage V6.

When the LED 41 is blinked, the operator of the printer 1 can recognizethat the printer 1 is switched to the saving mode and substantially 10sheets of the labels L can be furthermore printed at the low speed basedon the residual capacity of the battery 23. Further, the operator canobtain the information that substantially 10 sheets of the labels L canbe furthermore printed at the low speed from the handy terminal as well.

Further, in the ACT 51, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the grasped output voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) isequal to the voltage V6 (in the ACT 51, No), the processing of theprocessor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 55. In the ACT 55, the processor100 replaces the information of the operation mode of the printer 1stored in the mode storage area 143 with the information correspondingto the stopping mode. Namely, the processor 100 switches the operationmode of the printer 1 from the saving mode to the stopping mode. In anACT 56, the processor 100 determines that driving the printer 1 by usingthe present residual capacity of the battery 23 is difficult.Specifically, the processor 100 stops the driving of the printer 1 bystopping supply of the electric power from the battery 23 to every partsin the printer 1 and turning off all the LEDs 19. And then, theprocessor 100 executes the processing of the ACT 57. In this case, inthe ACT 57, the processor 100 sends information that the operation modeof the printer 1 is switched to the stopping mode to the handy terminal.In addition, an over-discharging of the battery 23 can be prevented byswitching the printer 1 to the stopping mode.

After the processor 100 executes the processing of the ACT 57 and endsthe lighting or blinking control processing of the ACT 12 LEDs in theACT 57, the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 13shown in FIG. 6. In the ACT 13, the processor 100 judges whether theprinting data is received from the handy terminal. In a case where theprocessor 100 determines that the printing data is received from thehandy terminal (in the ACT 13, Yes), the processing of the processor 100is proceeded to an ACT 14. In the ACT 14, the processor 100 judgeswhether information corresponding to the normal mode as the operationmode is stored in the mode storage area 143 of the memory 14. In a casewhere the processor 100 determines that the information corresponding tothe normal mode is stored in the mode storage area 143 (in the ACT 14,Yes), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 15. Inthe ACT 15, the processor 100 controls the charging and dischargingcontroller 22 in order to supply the normal electric power to the motor17. The charging and discharging controller 22, which is under thecontrol of the processor 100, controls the discharging of the battery 23and supplies the normal electric power to the motor 17. The motor 17 isrotated at a high speed when the normal electric power is supplied. Themotor 17 rotates the platen roller 31 at a high speed. The platen roller31 conveys the label L at a high speed. Further, the charging anddischarging controller 22 supplies the electric power to all heatingelements 32 of the thermal head 18. The thermal head 18 executes aprinting processing of the printing data onto the label L conveyed atthe high speed. Namely, in the ACT 15, the processor 100 executes anormal electric power printing processing (a printing processing in thenormal mode) in which the printing onto the label L conveyed at the highspeed is performed. In other words, the processor 100 is served as anormal electric power printing processor which executes the normalelectric power printing processing. After the printing processing ontoone label L is executed, the processing of the processor 100 is returnedto the ACT 11.

Further, in the ACT 14, in a case where the processor 100 determinesthat the information corresponding to the normal mode is not stored inthe mode storage area 143 (in the ACT 14, No), the processing of theprocessor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 16. In the ACT 16, the processor100 judges whether the information corresponding to the saving mode isstored in the mode storage area 143. In a case where the processor 100determines that the information corresponding to the saving mode isstored in the mode storage area 143 (in the ACT 16, Yes), the processingof the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 17. In the ACT 17, theprocessor 100 controls the charging and discharging controller 22 inorder to supply the low electric power lower than the normal electricpower to the motor 17. The charging and discharging controller 22, whichis under the control of the processor 100, controls the discharging ofthe battery 23 and supplies the low electric power to the motor 17. Themotor 17 is rotated at a low speed when the low electric power issupplied. The motor 17 rotates the platen roller 31 at a low speed. Theplaten roller 31 conveys the label L at a low speed. Further, thecharging and discharging controller 22 supplies the electric power toall heating elements 32 of the thermal head 18. The thermal head 18executes a printing processing of the printing data onto the label Lconveyed at the low speed. Namely, in the ACT 17, the processor 100executes a saving electric power printing processing (a printingprocessing in the saving mode) in which the printing onto the label Lconveyed at the low speed is performed. In other words, the processor100 is served as a saving electric power printing processor whichexecutes the saving electric power printing processing. At this time,since the LED 41 is blinked, the operator can recognize that the printer1 is executing the saving electric power printing processing by visualobservation to the blinking of the LED 41. Further, after the printingprocessing onto one label L is executed, the processing of the processor100 is returned to the ACT 11. Further, in the ACT 16, in a case wherethe processor 100 determines that the information corresponding to thesaving mode is not stored in the mode storage area 143 (in the ACT 16,No), the processor 100 determines that the operation mode of the printer1 is in the stopping mode and the processing of the processor 100 isreturned to the ACT 11.

On the other hand, in the ACT 13, in a case where the processor 100determines that the printing data is not received from the handyterminal (in the ACT 13, No), the processing of the processor 100 isproceeded to an ACT 21. In the ACT 21, the processor 100 judges whetheran error is occurred in the printer 1. In a case where the processor 100determines that the error is occurred in the printer 1 (in the ACT 21,Yes), the processing of the processor 100 is proceeded to an ACT 22. Inthe ACT 22, the processor 100 executes an error display processing bylighting the LED in an error display area 36 corresponding to theoccurred error. Next, in an ACT 23, the processor 100 judges whether theerror is canceled. The processor 100 waits until the error is canceled(in the ACT 23, No). In a case where the processor 100 determines thatthe error is canceled (in the ACT 23, Yes), in the ACT 24, the processor100 turns off the LED lit in the ACT 22. After turning off the LED, theprocessing of the processor 100 is returned to the ACT 11. Further, inthe ACT 21, in a case where the processor 100 determines that the erroris not occurred (in the ACT 21, No), the processing of the processor 100is returned to the ACT 11.

Here, in the ACT 17, instead of reducing a conveying speed of the labelL by reducing the rotation speed of the motor 17, the processor 100 maycontrol the charging and discharging controller 22 and the thermal head18 to execute an intermittent processing such that the electric power issupplied to every other heating elements 32 of the thermal head 18. Byexecuting such an intermittent processing, similar to the processing ofthe ACT 17, the label L can be printed by the low electric power.

In this case, by thinning out the heating elements 32 to be actuated,the printing on the label L becomes thin and therefore a symbol such asa bar code to be optically read by an optical reading device not shownmay be thin. Thus, it might be difficult for the optical reading deviceto read the symbol. Accordingly, in a case where a character is printedby the printer 1, the processor 100 may control the charging anddischarging controller 22 and the thermal head 18 such that the electricpower is supplied to every other heating elements 32 of the thermal head18, in addition, in a case where the symbol is printed by the printer 1,the processor 100 may control the charging and discharging controller 22and the thermal head 18 such that the electric power is supplied to allheating elements 32. With such a configuration, the symbol becomes thickand therefore to be difficult to read the symbol by the optical readingdevice is avoided.

For example, in a case where a printing area of the symbol on the labelL is fixed, the processor 100 may control the printing operation suchthat the electric power is supplied to all heating elements 32 locatedin a certain region corresponding to the printing area to which thesymbol is printed and the electric power is supplied to every otherheating elements 32 located in other region. Further, the processor 100may control the printing operation such that the electric power issupplied to all heating elements 32 only in a case where the printingoperation of the printing command for printing the symbol is performed.

According to the printer 1 of the first embodiment, the processor 100lights the corresponding LED 19 in accordance with the residual capacityof the battery 23, namely for example, the output voltage of the battery23 measured by the measuring device 24. By lighting the LED 19, theprocessor 100 informs the information (amount information) of theresidual printable number indicating how many labels L can befurthermore printed by the printer 1. Accordingly, the operator of theprinter 1 can recognize how many labels L can be furthermore printed bynumber based on the residual capacity of the battery 23 installed in theprinter 1.

(Second Embodiment)

A printer according to a second embodiment is described with referenceto FIGS. 8 to 10. Here, in the second embodiment, it is described as oneexample of the printer by using a portable battery-driven printer, whichprints a measured result (printing data) with respect to aninfrastructures including electricity, gas, water and the like onto areceipt paper PR2 (see FIG. 9) as a printing medium. Hereinafter, theportable printer is merely called a printer 1. Further, in the secondembodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to components sameas those in the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof istherefore omitted. Further, all issued receipts on which the measuredresult is printed have substantially the same length.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of the printer 1according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, a display 3 hasa residual number display area 42 which displays the length (amountinformation) of the receipt paper PR2 (the printing medium) on which themeasured result (the printing data) is printable by a predeterminedresidual capacity of a battery 23. In the second embodiment, numbers of“100”, “50”, “30”, and “10” indicating the amount information aredisplayed linearly in a lateral direction at the same intervals in theresidual number display area 42. These numbers correspond to estimatednumbers as to how many meters the receipt paper PR2 can be furthermoreprinted based on the residual capacity of the battery 23, respectively.The number of “100” indicating the amount information means thatsubstantially 100 meters of the receipt paper PR2 can be further moreprinted. The number of “50” indicating the amount information means thatsubstantially 50 meters of the receipt paper PR2 can be further moreprinted. The number of “30” indicating the amount information means thatsubstantially 30 meters of the receipt paper PR2 can be further moreprinted. The number of “10” indicating the amount information means thatsubstantially 10 meters of the receipt paper PR2 can be further moreprinted.

Further, the display 3 has LEDs arranged at positions corresponding tothe numbers (in the second embodiment, each position below each number),respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, an LED 38 is arranged below the numberof “100”, an LED 39 is arranged below the number of “50”, an LED 40 isarranged below the number of “30”, and an LED 41 is arranged below thenumber of “10”.

Further, the printer 1 informs that substantially 100 meters of thereceipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed at a high speed based onthe residual capacity of the battery 23 at the moment by lighting theLED 38. Further, the printer 1 informs that substantially 50 meters ofthe receipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed at the high speed basedon the residual capacity of the battery 23 at the moment by lighting theLED 39. Further, the printer 1 informs that substantially 30 meters ofthe receipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed at the high speed basedon the residual capacity of the battery 23 at the moment by lighting theLED 40. Further, the printer 1 informs that substantially 10 meters ofthe receipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed at the high speed basedon the residual capacity of the battery 23 at the moment by lighting theLED 41. Further, the printer 1 informs that substantially meters of thereceipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed at the high speed based onthe residual capacity of the battery 23 at the moment by blinking theLED 41. Accordingly, based on the lighting or blinking LED 19, theoperator of the printer 1 can recognize how many meters of the receiptpaper PR2 can be furthermore printed by the printer 1 based on theresidual capacity of the battery 23.

Further, the display 3 has a switch 43 for switching an operation modeof the printer 1 to the saving mode. In a case where an output voltageof the battery 23 corresponding to the residual capacity of the battery23 is less than the voltage V5, when the switch 43 receives an operationof the operator, the operation mode of the printer 1 is switched fromthe normal mode to the saving mode.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration with respectto conveying of the receipt paper PR2 and printing the receipt paper PR2in the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the elongated receipt paper PR2 isheld in the printer 1 in such a manner in which the receipt paper PR2 iswound. A front face of the receipt paper PR2 is coated with a colordeveloping agent which develops black color or other colors when heat isapplied thereon. The receipt paper PR2 is pulled out and conveyed in adirection of an arrow P. The receipt paper PR2 is elastically held by athermal head 18 and a platen roller 31 at a contact position of thethermal head 18 and the platen roller 31. At the contact position, thefront face of the receipt paper PR2 is contacted with a heating element32 of the thermal head 18. Further, at the contact position, a rear faceof the receipt paper PR2 is elastically contacted with the platen roller31. The platen roller 31 is rotated by rotation of a motor 17 energizedby the electric power supplied from the battery 23. When the platenroller 31 is rotated, the receipt paper PR2 is conveyed in the directionof the arrow P. When the motor 17 is rotated at a high speed by thenormal electric power supplied to the motor 17 from the battery 23, thereceipt paper PR2 is conveyed at a high speed by the platen roller 31.When the motor 17 is rotated at a low speed by low electric power lowerthan the normal electric power supplied to the motor 17 from the battery23, the receipt paper PR2 is convey at a low speed by the platen roller31. The receipt paper PR2 conveyed by the platen roller 31 and themeasured result is printed thereon by the thermal head 18 is dischargedfrom the slit 6 to the outside of the printer 1.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating of a part of an LED lightingcontrol processing of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 10, in an ACT 51,a processor 100 (judging processor 102) judges whether the graspedoutput voltage of the battery 23 (see the ACT 11) is less than thevoltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6. In a case where theprocessor 100 determines that the grasped output voltage of the battery23 is less than the voltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6(in the ACT 51, Yes), the processing of the processor 100 is proceededto an ACT 61. In the ACT 61, the processor 100 judges whether the switch43 for switching the operation mode to the saving mode receives theoperation of the operator. The processor 100 waits until the switch 43receives the operation of the operator (in the ACT 61, No). In a casewhere the processor 100 determines that the switch 43 receives theoperation of the operator (in the ACT 16, Yes), the processor 100executes the processing following the ACT 52.

According to the printer 1 of the second embodiment, the processor 100lights the corresponding LED 19 in accordance with the residual capacityof the battery 23, namely for example, the output voltage of the battery23 measured by the measuring device 24. The processor 100 informs theinformation (amount information) of a printable length indicating howmany meters of the receipt paper PR2 can be furthermore printed by theprinter 1 by lighting the LED 19. Accordingly, the operator of theprinter 1 can recognize how many meters of the receipt paper PR2 can befurthermore printed by number based on the residual capacity of thebattery 23 installed in the printer 1.

In the first and the second embodiments, in the normal electric powerprinting processing in the ACT 15, the motor 17 is rotated at the highspeed, while in the saving electric power printing processing in the ACT17, the motor 17 is rotated at the low speed. According to such aconfiguration, a rotation sound of the motor 17 during the printingprocessing is different between in the normal electric power printingprocessing (the printing processing in the normal mode) and in thesaving electric power printing processing (the printing processing inthe saving mode). Thus, the operator might feel suspicious about whyprinter 1 emits different sounds.

Each of printers according to the first and the second embodiments hasthe following configuration as described above. The printer 1 can alsosolve the problem with respect to the sound described above by theconfiguration described below. The printer 1 measures the residualcapacity of the battery 23 by using the measuring device 24. Themeasuring device 24 outputs the measured result to the processor 100.The processor 100 is served as the residual capacity measuring processor101, the judging processor 102, the normal electric power printingprocessor, the saving electric power printing processor, and theinforming processor 103 as described above by executing the programstored in the control program area 141 of the memory 14. The processor100 (the residual capacity measuring processor 101) receives themeasured result of the measuring device 24. The processor 100 (theresidual capacity measuring processor 101) grasps the residual capacityof the battery 23 based on the measured result of the measuring device24. The processor 100 (the judging processor 102) judges whether thegrasped residual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced to less than apredetermined residual capacity. The predetermined residual capacitycorresponds to the residual capacity of the battery 23 capable ofexecuting the printing processing onto a predetermined amount (number ofsheet or length) of the printing medium (the label L or the receiptpaper PR2) by the printer 1. In a case where the processor 100 (thejudging processor 102) determines that the grasped residual capacity ofthe battery 23 is not reduced to less than the predetermined residualcapacity (the grasped residual capacity of the battery 23 is equal to ormore than the predetermined residual capacity), the processor 100 (thenormal electric power printing processor) executes the normal electricpower printing processing (see the ACT 15). In a case where theprocessor 100 (the judging processor 102) determines that the graspedresidual capacity of the battery 23 is reduced to less than thepredetermined residual capacity, the processor 100 (the saving electricpower printing processor) executes the saving electric power printingprocessing (see the ACT 17). The processor 100 (the informing processor103) informs the execution of the saving electric power printingprocessing. The processor 100 (the informing processor 103) informs theexecution of the saving electric power printing processing by using thedisplay 3. Further, the processor 100 (the informing processor 103)blinks the LED 41 of the display 3 in order to inform the execution ofthe saving electric power printing processing. Further, the processor100 (the saving electric power printing processor) executes the printingprocessing onto the printing medium while conveying the printing mediumby controlling the charging and discharging controller such that the lowelectric power is supplied from the battery 23 to the motor 17. Further,the processor 100 (the saving electric power printing processor)controls the printing head with a plurality of printing elements (theheating elements 32) of the printing head (the thermal head 18) beingthinned out and driven. Further, in a case where the switch 43 forswitching the operation mode of the printer 1 to the saving modereceives the operation of the operator, the processor 100 (the savingelectric power printing processor) executes the saving electric powerprinting processing.

In the printer 1 according to the embodiments, since the execution ofthe saving electric power printing processing is informed by theprocessor 100 (the informing processor 103), the operator can recognizethe execution of the saving electric power printing processing inaccordance with the informing. Accordingly, the operator does not feelsuspicious when the sound emitted from the printer is changed.

For example, in the first embodiment, the upstream device of the printer1 is described as the handy terminal which performs the printing on thelabel L the information of the absence notification during the delivery,and in the second embodiment, the upstream is described as the handyterminal which performs the printing the measured result with respect tothe infrastructures including electricity, gas, water and the like.However, the upstream device of the printer 1 is not limited to those.For example, the upstream device of the printer 1 may be provided as ahandy terminal possessed by those who peddle medicines, or a handyterminal possessed by a route sales person of the online supermarkets.

Further, in the embodiments, the printer is described as the portableprinter 1. However, the printer is not limited to this. The printer maybe formed as a stationary printer having a battery.

Further, in the embodiments, in the processing of the processor 100 inthe ACT 54, the LED 41 is blinked. However, it is not limited to this. Aconfiguration in which a luminescence color of the LED 41 is changed maybe adopted. Further, another LED may be blinked with or instead of theLED 41.

Further, in the embodiments, four kinds of sheet numbers including 100sheets, 50 sheets, 30 sheets, and 10 sheets are displayed by usingnumbers of “100”, “50”, “30”, and “10” in the residual number displayarea 37. Further, four kinds of lengths including 100 meters, 50 meters,30 meters, and 10 meters are displayed by using numbers of “100”, “50”,“30”, and “10” in the residual number display area 42. However, thedisplayed numbers are not limited to these. The displayed number may beone or more. However, to display a plurality of numbers is preferable.

Further, in the embodiments, the printer 1 is described as the thermalprinter having the thermal head 18 and the heating element 32. However,it is not limited to this. The printer 1 may be formed as, for example,a battery-driven inkjet printer.

Further, in the embodiments, in the ACT 51, in a case where the outputvoltage of the battery 23 is less than the voltage V5 and equal to ormore than the voltage V6 (in the ACT 51, Yes), the processor 100switches the operation mode of the printer 1 to the saving mode, andthen in the ACT 17, the processor 100 executes the printing processingwhile conveying the label L at the low speed. Namely, in the ACT 17,many labels L are printable as long as the output voltage of the battery23 is less than the voltage V5 and equal to or more than the voltage V6.On the other hand, as to the sheet number of the label L to be printedin the ACT 17 after the operation mode of the printer 1 is switched tothe saving mode, it may be formed that the sheet number is counted by acounter and the printing processing in the ACT 17 is stopped when avalue of the counter reaches a predetermined sheet number (for example,10 sheets).

Here, the program executed in the printer 1 according to the embodimentsis provided as an installable type or an executable type file stored ina recording medium readable by a computer. Examples of the recordingmedium readable by the computer include a CD-ROM, a flexible disc (FD),a CD-R, and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

Further, the program executed in the printer 1 according to theembodiments may be provided by being stored in a computer connected to anetwork such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further,the program executed in the printer 1 according to the embodiments maybe provided or delivered via a network such as the Internet.

Further, the program executed in the printer 1 according to theembodiments may be provided by being stored in a ROM or the like inadvance.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer for printing data onto a printingmedium using a battery as a power source, comprising: a measuring devicethat measures a residual capacity of the battery; a display fordisplaying information related to the residual capacity of the battery;and a processor that determines whether the residual capacity of thebattery, as measured by the measuring device, is less than apredetermined residual capacity value, and controls the display todisplay amount information corresponding to a length of the printingmedium that can be printed based on the residual capacity of the batterywhen the residual capacity of the battery is less than the predeterminedresidual capacity value.
 2. The printer according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a memory that stores amount information corresponding to thelength of the printing medium that can be printed when the battery has ameasured residual capacity equal to the predetermined residual capacityvalue.
 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the memory stores aplurality of different residual capacity values, each of the differentresidual capacity values being associated with information including adifferent length of the printing medium that can be printed when thebattery has the measure residual capacity equal to a particular one thedifferent residual capacity values in the plurality of the residualcapacities values.
 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein theprocessor determines whether the residual capacity of the battery, asmeasured by the measuring device, is less than any one of the differentresidual capacity values every time a printing is performed.
 5. Aprinter for printing data onto a printing medium using a battery as apower source, comprising: a measuring device that measures a residualcapacity of the battery; a display for displaying information related tothe residual capacity of the battery; a printing head that performs theprinting onto the printing medium based on the printing data; a platenroller that conveys the printing medium by rotating while holding theprinting medium to the printing head; a motor that rotates the platenroller; a charging and discharging controller that supplies electricpower to the printing head and the motor from the battery by controllinga charging and discharging of the battery; a memory that stores apredetermined residual capacity value of the battery in association withamount information indicating an amount of the printing medium that canbe printed with printing data when the battery has the predeterminedresidual capacity value; and a processor that determines whether theresidual capacity of the battery, as measured by the measuring device,is less than the predetermined residual capacity value, in a case wherethe processor determines that the residual capacity of the battery isnot less than the predetermined residual capacity value, controls thecharging and discharging controller such that normal electric power issupplied to at least the motor, and in a case where the processordetermines that the residual capacity of the battery is less than thepredetermined residual capacity value, controls the charging anddischarging controller such that low electric power, which is lower thanthe normal electric power, is supplied to at least the motor, andcontrols the display to display the amount information associated withthe predetermined residual capacity value in the memory as theinformation related to the residual capacity of the battery.
 6. Theprinter according to claim 5, wherein the memory stores a firstpredetermined residual capacity value and a second predeterminedresidual capacity value that is lower than the first predeterminedresidual capacity value, and first amount information and second amountinformation respectively associated with the first predeterminedresidual capacity value and the second predetermined residual capacityvalue, and in a case where the processor determines that the residualcapacity of the battery is less than the first predetermined residualcapacity value and not less than the second predetermined residualcapacity value, the processor controls the charging and dischargingcontroller such that the low electric power is supplied to at least themotor, and in a case where the processor determines that the residualcapacity of the battery is less than the second predetermined residualcapacity value, the processor controls the charging and dischargingcontroller such that the low electric power is supplied to at least themotor.
 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein in a case where theprocessor determines that the residual capacity of the battery is lessthan the first predetermined residual capacity value and not less thanthe second predetermined residual capacity value, the processor controlsthe display to display the first amount information as the informationrelated to the residual capacity of the battery, and in a case where theprocessor determines that the residual capacity of the battery is lessthan the second predetermined residual capacity value, the processorcontrols the display to display the second amount information as theinformation related to the residual capacity of the battery.
 8. Theprinter according to claim 7, wherein the memory further stores a thirdpredetermined residual capacity value that is lower than the secondpredetermined residual capacity value, and in a case where the processordetermines that the residual capacity of the battery is less than thesecond predetermined residual capacity value and not less than the thirdpredetermined residual capacity value, the processor controls thecharging and discharging controller such that the low electric power issupplied to at least the motor, and in a case where the processordetermines that the residual capacity of the battery is less than thethird predetermined residual capacity value, the processor controls thecharging and discharging controller such that electric power is notsupplied to at least the motor from the battery.
 9. The printeraccording to claim 7, further comprising a switch that receives a signalfor supplying the low electric power to at least the motor, wherein, ina case where the processor determines that the measured residualcapacity of the battery is less than the second predetermined residualcapacity value and is not less than the third predetermined residualcapacity value, and the switch receives the signal, the processorcontrols the charging and discharging controller such that the lowelectric power is supplied to at least the motor.
 10. The printeraccording to claim 1, further comprising: a memory that stores thepredetermined residual capacity value in association with the amountinformation corresponding to the length of the printing medium that canbe printed based on the residual capacity of the battery when theresidual capacity of the battery is less than the predetermined residualcapacity value, and the processor controls the display such that thelength of the printing medium is displayed.
 11. The printer according toclaim 1, wherein the processor controls to display: first informationindicating a first length of the printing medium that can be printedwhen conveyed at a first speed according to the residual capacity of thebattery, when the processor determines that the residual capacity of thebattery is not less than the predetermined residual capacity value, andsecond information indicating a second length of the printing mediumthat can be printed when conveyed at a second speed that is lower thanthe first speed, according to the residual capacity of the battery, whenthe processor determines that the residual capacity of the battery isless than the predetermined residual capacity value.
 12. The printeraccording to claim 11, wherein, when the second information isdisplayed, the printing medium is conveyed at the second speed forprinting.
 13. The printer according to claim 12, wherein, when theprocessor at least twice determines in succession that the residualcapacity of the battery, as measured by the measuring device, is lessthan the predetermined residual capacity value, the processor controlsthe display to display the second information.
 14. The printer accordingto claim 13, wherein, when conveying speed for the printing medium ischanged from the first speed to the second speed, the processor sendsnotification of the change in the conveying speed to an externalterminal from which the processor acquires printing data for printing onthe printing medium.